Friday, 18 September 2015

My actual travel date for my upcoming trip is supposed to be 12 Oct - 23 Oct 2015. I couldn't sleep well ever since I got to know that 씨엔블루 will have two concerts on 24 & 25 Oct 2015. I felt like crying....왜???!!!

And so for more than a week, I was on a mind torturing journey of preparing myself to grab the tickets once its open to public for booking, which is 18 Sep. That's right. Its today at SG time 6pm. Other than concert tickets, I got to settle my accommodation and air ticket. Oh yes. That is why I asked my host about extension of stay for a SUPER DUPER IMPORTANT REASON - 씨엔블루 "Come Together" 2015.

The good news is I managed to get a ticket for both nites!!! Hoorayyyyy!!! The tickets were snapped up real fast and I am so lucky to get for both nites. All becos I have a very kind friend, 재희 ^^ Without her, I couldn't get the ticket at all. No words can explain how grateful and thankful I am. She did not just help me with the booking but also in many other ways. The best part is I only knew her for 11 days??? I am so thankful to have her as a friend ^^ 고마워

I am also thankful to my new Airbnb host who has agreed to wait for me till Saturday. I explained to her about the concert tickets as well as the shocking experience with my previous Airbnb host. Its only right that I tell her the truth, isn't it?

So what's left now is my air ticket...which needs to be cancelled and pay the penalties or top up few hundreds. 괜찮아요. I am already mentally prepared when I have decided to go for the concerts. Its worth it.

I felt so mentally and physically exhausted after 재희 booked the tickets. I guess all my energy was used up during the mind torturing period hahahahaha

Thursday, 17 September 2015

I emailed to Airbnb this morning for an update and the lady from Airbnb called me back. Yes, the caller ID indicates "California".

She managed to get in touch with my host who also told her about the problem he encountered with the police and she told him that he has to initiate the cancellation. He did :)

Within minutes, I received a notification from Airbnb that the reservation is cancelled and I was given two options. First option is for the refund to be used on another Airbnb apartment. On top of this, Airbnb will top up $88 for me if my next accommodation cost more than the one cancelled. This top up of $88 will be valid for 30 days. Awesome isn't it??

Second option is to have the full refund back to my credit card.

Out of curiosity, I asked the Airbnb lady how is the weather at "her side". She told me she is actually located in Singapore but the call will be directed out of Singapore. I see ㅋㅋㅋ

My overall experience for this encounter was thankful because things did not happen just before or during my trip. Airbnb was helpful and provides prompt service recovery.

A big thanks to Linh from Airbnb!

Wish me the best of luck for tomorrow cos tomorrow decides the fate for my SUPER DUPER IMPORTANT REASON to extend my stay in Korea!! Please let me fly back to Singapore with no regrets and abundance of happiness ^^

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

I booked an apartment from airbnb(as usual) for my upcoming trip this Autumn. Yup home time. So since Sunday, I have been trying to reach my host to ask if I can extend my stay due to a SUPER DUPER IMPORTANT REASON. Actually, I have checked his calender on Airbnb and I knew the dates were taken up but I just wana try my luck. I dropped him a msg via airbnb, a sms to his hp and another msg via Airbnb yesterday. No reply till this morning. I thought something bad has happened to my host becos I don't think any host will reply this late...and so I got a reply on the third day. Kinda of unbelievable, isn't it? here's his replies and I shall leave it to you to judge.First email :"Hi ~

First, I'm really sorry...I have some problem that I have to cancel your booking.Because yesterday the police come my place and told me stop sell the room on airbnb..also get penalty...I don't know why but the Airbnb is illegal in KoreaI also very angry and don't understand...but...

There is one way you can stay, If you don't mind you can cancel your booking and pay direct to me by cash...but It's too bother you...Anyway I'm really sorry to tell this...Hope you can find better house...so sorry...."

Second email :

"Thank you for understanding and worry about me...

For refund of course you will get full refund~so no worry.

Sorry again. and take care.

If you don't mind when you come Korea, e-mail or kakao me. Let's grab some coffee or beer"

Seriously speaking, I was not angry at all and felt it was a blessing in disguise. I would be glad to have coffee or beer with him but let's settle things first.

I can't imagine what will happen if I have not text him. I texted him becos I wanted to try my luck asking about the extended stay and indeed I was lucky. He was the first host who did not give me any directions/maps upon my booking even though my reservation at that point of time was still a few months away from the actual date of checking in. For this, I gave him the benefit of doubt that its still too early to give me all those directions.

I can't believe that Airbnb is illegal in Korea. So does that mean I have violated the laws in all my previous trips?? I only know for sure that it is illegal to have HDB flats as Airbnb apartments in Singapore. Again, I chose to give him the benefit of doubt that he couldn't/didn't explain himself well. I think I should be able to get back a full refund. Hope the whole process will not take too long or tedious.

I told my host I should not be the one to initiate the cancellation becos I will need to bear 50% of the payment if I am the one to cancel the reservation. Hmm! Till now, my reservation is not cancelled.

Fortunately, I also dropped Airbnb a msg yesterday about no response from my host. So this afternoon, I received a call from California! I thought it was a prank call and almost rejected the call. I am glad that I didn't. It was from Airbnb.

I told the lady from Airbnb about what my host told me and she will try to reach the host first. During the whole conversation, I was still doubtful of her identity but was assured when she dropped me an email (bearing Airbnb logo and email) after our conversation. Till now, Airbnb has not get back to me about the refund but the lady from Airbnb told me she still couldn't reach the host. It was afternoon when she told me so. She also advised me to keep all our conversations between tenant and host via Airbnb mailbox so that Airbnb can trace the whole case.

I stayed in Airbnb a few times and totally love it. This is my first time to experience such encounter. Lies or not is not important to me for now. God is watching and God is fair. Its a blessing in disguise to me. My top most concern is my SUPER DUPER IMPORTANT REASON to extend my stay!!!!! I really really hope my wish could come true.

Monday, 14 September 2015

Sunday, 13 September 2015

Omgggg...I just watched the full MV of 씨엔블루 - "신데렐라" via V Live!!! Love the song!! Love the guys hahahhahahaha Can't wait to listen to the rest of the songs in the new album. I have been counting down to this new album! I think I cannot sleep tonight at the thought of them. 어떻게...its 11.20pm and I am still so wide awake because I am too excited to sleep.

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안녕하세요 ^^ I love Korea but I'm always proud to be a Singaporean! This blog is to share anything of what I love and find interesting of Korea. There are still many things that I do not know about Korea but I hope that my trips’ experiences will be of some help to people who are planning to visit Korea on their own for the first time ^^ All information such as directions, bus schedules, existence of shops/places etc furnished in this blog is subjected to changes by the relevant authorities. I do not have the time to check and give the latest updates. Hope you understand. Thank you.